Printing plate thinning and shaving machine



Jan. 12, 1937. w. F. HUCK PRINTING PLATE THINNING AND SHAVING MACHINE 4Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 2, 1952 fitu KM ATTIY.

Jan. 12, 1937. w. F. HUCK PRINTING PLATE THINNING AND SHAVING MACHINEFiled Feb. 2; 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. W6F

Jan. 12,1937. w. F. HUCK PRINTING PLATE THINNING AND SHAVING MACHINEFiled Feb. 2, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR W72JVL/K Patented Jan. 12,I937 'NlTE STES PATENT OFFICE PRINTING PLATE THINNING AND SHAVINGMACHINE Application February 2, 1932, Serial No. 590,352

18 Claims.

This invention relates to thinning and finishing machines for operatingupon curved stereotype or other printing plates having for its principalobjects the provision of an improved device of the kind indicated thatwill effect a substantial saving in time and labor while more eficientlyshaving and trimming said plates than heretofore possible withconventional mechanism.

Another object is to provide a machine for thinning and machining curvedstereotype printing plates, of novel design and construction with meansfor effecting a rough cutting and an attendant fine or finishing shavingof printing plates at substantially one operation.

Another object is the provision of a device for thinning curvedstereotype printing plates, incorporating means independently rotatablefor giving a preparatory rough cut or thinning to a printing plate and afinishing shaving in substan tially one operation.

A still further object is to provide an improved machine for thinningcurved stereotype or other printing plates having a novel combination ofmeans for effecting at one operation a rough cut and a finishing shavingto said printing plates,

It is also an object of the invention to provide a thinning andfinishing machine for operating upon curved printing plates of generallyimproved construction, whereby the device will be simple, durable andinexpensive in construction, as well as convenient, practical,serviceable and efficient in its use.

In the drawings wherein similar characters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in the several views of the preferred form of theinvention Figure 1 is a front elevational view, partly in section, withparts broken away, of an embodiment of my invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged transverse sectional view, taken on line 2-2 ofFig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view, taken on line 3-3 of Figure 1,looking in the direction of the arrow;

Figure 4 is a top plan view of the device, with parts broken away, asviewed in the direction of the arrow 4 of Figure 1, and

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on line 55 ofFigure 2, showing details of construction of the plate ejecting meansemployed.

In the drawings wherein similar characters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in the pre- -ferred form of the invention, a machineembodying my invention is illustrated which may comprise a frame Inincluding a base or foundation II to which are bolted or otherwisesecured supporting frame members or pedestals I2, I3; and a housing I4,for a belt I5 and pulleys IS, IT; by which power is transmitted from amotor I 8 also fastened to the base II.

On the pedestals I2, I3 or means fastened thereon, a plate thinning orshaving rotating assembly I9 is rotatably secured, the asssembly I9including a comparatively large rotatable cylinder 2| provided with aseparately revolvable smaller cylinder or roller 22 eccentricallymounted thereon and hereinafter described more fully, which may beconsidered as substantially a milling cutter having adjustable cuttingmeans or knives hereinafter described for obtaining a coarse orpreliminary rough out. The cylinder 2! is provided with an adjustableknife or blade 24 for effecting a fine or finishing thinning out afterthe coarse cut made by the knives of the milling cutter whereby at oneoperation of the machine A, or a partial revolution of the largecylinder 2 I, a stereotype or printing plate B may be thinned and.shaved.

The body portion of the cylinder 2i, as best shown in Figure 2, isdivided into a plurality of segments 25, 26, 27, joined to a central hub28 which is provided with journals 29, 3| mounted on bearings 32, 33supported on the pedestals I2, I3 or means secured thereto and arrangedin housings or journal boxes 34, 35 fastened to the pedestals I2, I 3.As best shown in Figure 2, between the segments 25, 26 a channel orpassageway 25' is provided, while between the segments 26, 21 a similarchannel 26' is provided. The channels 25 and 26' serve to convey metalchips and shavings from the space enclosed by the plates I21, I28 intothe chute I29.

The right-hand side of hub 28, as viewed in Figure 1, and the journal 3!secured to or formed integrally therewith are of hollow or recessedconstruction to provide a pocket 36 in order to accommodate a shaft 31,provided with a worm 38, a thrust collar 39 and journals II, 42 andhaving secured or keyed on one reduced end of the said shaft 31 adjacentthe journal 4| a gear meshing with a gear 50 fastened to a reduced end46 on a neck journal 41 formed on an axle 48 secured to the right-handside of the cutting roller or milling cutter 22, the journal 41 beingsupported on a bearing 49 mounted on the hub 28. The left-hand side ofthe same milling cutter 22, as seen in Figure 1 has an axle 5| formedwith a journal 52 supported on a bearing 53 also mounted on the hub 28at the left hand side of the cylinder 2| and enclosed in a journal box54 secured to the body portion of the cylinder 2 I. The bearing 49, neckjournal 4'? and the immediate associated parts at the right-hand side ofthe milling cutter 22 are enclosed in a journal box 55 which coacts withthe hub 28 of the cylinder 2| in housing the gears 48 and 58.

The housing or casing 35 which houses the hollow journal 3|, Worm 38 andother coacting parts together with details hereinafter described, iscomposed of two sections 51, 58 joined in any suitable manner andfastened on the pedestal I3.

On a reduced portion 59 of the hollow journal 3|, wthin the casing 35, aworm wheel 6| keyed thereto is secured by a lock collar or nut 62, theworm wheel being engaged by a worm 63 arranged within the casing 35 andsecured to a shaft 64 having a slipping gear 65, the hub 65' of whichlatter is fastened at one end of said shaft 64. The slipping gear I55,which serves to prevent damage or overloading of the moving mechanism ofthe present device and the power supply therefor by its capacity to slipor ride over its own hub 65' in case the stereotype plate should offeran undue resistance due either to defects in the material thereof orthrough setting the knives 24 and 8| too far outwardly of the respectiveperipheries of the cylinder 2| and milling cutter 22includes thefollowing details: The hub 65' mentioned above on which an outer annularsection I35 having gear teeth is revolvably mounted. On a threadedportion of the same hub 65' a ring I36 is threadedly secured, the ringI36 being formed with a plurality of pockets I3'I in each of which aspring I38 is arranged. The springs I38 press against an annular insertor member I39 which is frictionally engaged against the other annularsection I35 and seated in a shouldered portion I4| thereon. Holes I42are formed in the ring I36, to provide means for tightening or looseningthe said ring I36 when desired, The shaft 64 has journals 66, 61supported in bearings 68, 69 secured to the frame i8. anintermediategear II rotatably mounted in the housing 35 and coacting with a gear 88,secured on an end of a shaft I8 journalled in the same housing 35. Theother end of the shaft I8 has fastened thereto a worm gear I2 meshingwith the worm 38 mentioned above. The gears 65, 'II and 88 constitute atrain of gears enclosed in a housing I3, which may be a part of thehousing 35 or a separate housing suitably fastened thereto. Incombination with gear I2 and the two worms 38 and 63, the abovementioned train of gears serve to transmit power from the motor I8 viathe belt I5 and pulleys I6, I1 and shaft 3! of the large worm gear 6|directly fastened to the cylinder 2| while the same shaft 3'! viacoacting gears 48 and 58 is revolving at comparatively high speed themilling cutter 22.

The milling cutter or cylinder 22, as best shown in Figures 1 and 2,comprises a. body portion I4, having the axles 5|, 48 reduced to providethe journals 52, 41 alluded to above, the said body portion I4, beingprovided with radially-arranged recesses or pockets 19, in each of whichis secured a. cutting knife 8 I, clampingly held against one of theinclined walls of the said pockets I9 by a wedge or block 82, andadapted to be received therein. The block 82 is adjustably held in thepocket I9 by an adjusting screw 83, the stem of which is threadedlysecured in a hole 84 provided in the said block 82, and in a registeringthreaded pocket 85 formed in the body portion I4 of the milling The gear65 meshes with cutter 22, it being understood that when the adjustingscrews 83 are turned, the wedges or blocks 82 can be slid into and outof pockets I9, to a variable degree, so that the knives can bepositioned as desired with a view to arranging same for the desireddepth of cut in the curved stereotype plate B, which, as best shown inFigure 2 is arranged against the arched inner surface of a top framemember or web 88 joining the pedestals I2 and I3, and in the spacebetween the said arched top frame and the periphery of the cylinder 2|.The knife. 24 of the cylinder 2| is of the same type as the knives 8| ofthe milling cutter 22, and is received in a tapering recess 8'!accommodating a block 88 adapted to clampingly confine the knife 24against one of the sloping walls of the said recess 8? when a screw bolt89 threadedly engaged with said block and the segment 25 of the cylinder2| is turned to opcratively position or adjust the knife 24 for the finecut desired.

The stereotype plate B is supported in the position shown in Figure 2 bya shelf 98, suitably fastened to the frame. member 86, and by a plate 9|secured to and forming a. part of cam-operated member 92 normallymaintained in the operative position shown by a spring 93, which pressesupwardly the stem of an eye bolt 94 connected by a pin 95 to the member92. The said spring 93 is arranged in a pocket or recess 96 formed inthe upper frame member 86 and can be adjusted to the desired tension bya nut QT and washer 98, it being observed that the lower end of thespring 83 is engaged against the floor of the pocket 96 and at an upperend against the washer 98. Formed integrally with or secured to themember 92 is an arm 89 provided with a roller I88 at one end which isadapted to be coactingly engaged by a cam I8! secured to or formedintegrally with the member 2|, as best shown in Figure 1 the cam IIIIthrusting down the said arm 99 and thereby lowering or swingingdownwardly the member 92 to permit the stereotype plate B to be removed.This is accomplished by means of a manually-operable plate-ejector ormember I82. The said plate-ejector I82, which comprises an elongated barI83, having a handle I84, at one end and a flange or projection I85, atanother,- is slidably mounted in an elongated pocket I86 formed in thesegment 26 of the member 2|, and by a plate I88 which is fastened in anysuitable manner, as by the screws I 89, to the said segment 26. A lug II 8 secured on the body portion of the bar I83 is engaged by a spring III seated in a recess IE2 in segment 26 and adapted normally to maintainthe member I83 in the position shown in Figure 5 to be manipulated inorder to eject the plate B shown in section, which is accomplished bygrasping the handle I84 and drawing the plate ejector I82 out of thepocket I86 against the resistance of the spring III until the flange I85riding in a slot H3 formed in the plate I88 comes in contact, with themarginal edge of the said slot at one end, the steretotype plate Bmeanwhile having been thrust out sufficiently to be grasped anddeposited on a platform ||4 connected by brackets H5, H6 which areadjustably secured to the frame member I2 by screws I43 riding in slotsH5, H6, formed in said bracket II5, II6. As best shown in Figure 2 indotted lines the frame member I2 is provided with depending portions|44, I45, which are engaged against the lower surface or edge of thebrackets I I5, I I6, the said portions having vertically-positionedadjusting screws I46 extending therethrough into the top frame member86, the lastmentioned screws I46 serving to raise and lower the saidbrackets and consequently the platform I I4 to the desired height forconveniently receiving and inserting stereotype plates, into the device.It will be understood that under normal operating conditions the outerannular section I35 of the gear 65 will be frictionally engaged with thehub 65 so that the latter and consequently shaft 64 and worm 63 willrevolve as the section I35 revolves.

Rotary movement therefore will be communicated to the cylinder 2| andthe cutting elements thereon. Should, however, the cylinder 2I opposetoo great a resistance to the torque communicated by gear 65, thesection I35 will slip or idle on the hub 65. The slipping gear 65, itwill be seen, thus provides an assurance against undue break-age ofparts or of strains leading to the same result.

By further inspection of Figure 2, it will be seen that the segments 25,21 are provided with small pockets II! which accommodate coil springsII8, which are engaged against the bottoms of small plunger pistons I I9slidably arranged in the said pockets II! and having pins I2I seated onthe top surfaces thereof. The pins I2I are fastened to triangular shapedplates I22 on which latter plate-engaging or pressure rollers I23 arerevolvably mounted. The plates I22 are pivotally secured to brackets ormembers I24 anchored by bolts I25 threadedly secured in the segments 25,21. The brackets I24 have projections or lugs I28 which serve as stopsto limit the movement of the plates I22 which carry the small presserrollers I23, after the milling cutter 22, has turned sufiiciently ormade a partial revolution to carry the said plates I22 and plateengagingor presser rollers I23 out of the arch of the upper frame member 86after the thinning of the stereotype plate B at each revolution.

Guides or deflectors I21, I28 are secured to the segments 25, 21 of thecylinder 2! to deflect metal cut or shaved from the inner curved surfaceof the plate B intoone or both of the passageways 25, 26' and thenceinto a chute I29 communicating with the said passageways 25', 26fastened to frame members I2, I3, the guide I28 being provided with asealing strip I38 of suitable material to prevent fragments of metalfrom getting into various adjacent parts and crevices.

As best shown in Figures 1 and 4, a finger I3I fastened to the hub 28 isadapted to engage an arm I32 secured to a switch I33, mounted onplatform II4,as the assembly I9 rotates, after the milling cutter 22 andknife 24 have accomplished their work in thinning and shaving thestereotype plate B. The actuation of the switch I33 by the coacting armI32 breaks the electric circuit to the electric motor I8, consequentlystopping the rotation of the cylinder 2| at a point where the millingcutter 22, knife 24 and presser rollers I2I have been carried withoutthe arched portion of the frame 86,thus permitting the easy withdrawalof the stereotype plate by the plate-ejector I92.

The function and general manner of operation of the device has been inlarge measure indicated from the foregoing details but will be morefully aparent from the following brief description:

The stereotype plate B to be thinned is placed on the platform H4,aligned with the annular space between the arched upper frame member 86and the cylinder 2I, and then pushed into the said space until arrestedby the flange I of the plate ejector I82. The plate B will now be in theposition best shown in Figure 2; i. e., one end resting on the shelf orplate 9|, the other end yieldingly engaged by the member 92, the upperconvex surface of the said plate B being engaged against the concavearched roof or under surface of the upper frame member 88.

When the circuit to the motor I8 is closed, the cylinder 2I by means ofthe reduction train of gears which includes the two worms 38 and 63,will slowly revolve, While the eccentrically mounted milling cutterroller 22 will rotate at comparatively high speed, the pressure rollersI2I, while the thinning operation is going on, applying an additionalpressure or support to maintain the plate B during the thinning processand also to smooth out inequalities therein. The shaving knife 24 on thecylinder 2I following the rotating milling cutter provides a cleanaccurate surface by shaving off the tool marks left by the said millingcutter. The thinning and shaving may be graduated from a comparativelyheavy slice to a fine shaving, the entire operation being completed atone partial revolution of the rotating assembly I9. The knives 8| of theeccentrically mounted milling cutter which extend longitudinally thefull length of the stereotype plate B may be adjusted to out from theinner curved surface of the plate B, variable amounts ranging from acomparatively deep slice to a thin shaving, but is primarily intended tomake the preliminary rough out, while the adjustable knife '24 on thelarge cylinder 2| is intended to give the finishing or fine shaving.When the operation is completed, the plate B is unlocked automaticallyas the cam IIlI engages the roller I93 on arm 99, thereby thrusting downthe latter and. consequently depressing the member 32. Almostsimultaneously with this automatic unlocking or release of the plate Bby the descent of themember 92, the finger I3I on hub 28 of the cylinder2I engages arm I32 of the switch I35, thereby opening the circuit of themotor 48 and bringing the machine to a stop. The finished stereotypeplate is now removed by drawing the bar I83 until the flange I05 hasprotruded the plate B beyond the end of the upper frame 86 sufiicientlyto be conveniently grasped and placed upon the platform H4 to beconveyed thence as desired.

What I claim is:

1. In a device of the kind described for thinning and finishing a curvedprinting plate at one operation, a rotatable cylinder having cuttingmeans and provided with an eccentricallymounted revolvable cutter, saidcutter having its axis parallel with the axis of the cylinder, means forsecuring said curved printing plate on said device in operative positionfor cutting, said means being automatically disengaged after saidprinting plate has ben thinned and shaved, and said cylinder havingducts effective for conveying cut metal from the plate by gravity to apoint without said cylinder while rotating.

2. In a device of the kind described, the combination of a rotatingmember having means secured thereto for shaving the inner curved surfaceof stereotype plates, a second member rotatably and eccentricallymounted on and having its axis in parallelism with the axis of saidfirstmentioned member, said second member having means fastened theretofor thinning the inner curved surface of said curved stereotype plate,

said means being adapted to finish the surface left by the secondmember, and other means for pressing the stereotype plate while beingthinned and shaved, means for automatically stopping both of saidmembers from rotating after the stereotype plate is thinned and shaved,and means for ejecting said plate when desired, said last-mentionedmeans being arranged in said first-mentioned member.

3. In a device of the kind described, a support, a frame secured to saidsupport and adapted to operatively receive a curved stereotype plate,manually-operable, spring-pressed means for operatively confining saidstereotype plate within said frame, other means for shaving the innersurface of the stereotype plate, a rotatable body, said last-mentionedmeans including a member eccentrically mounted upon said rotatable body,having cutting elements, power-driven means for simultaneously actuatingboth the member and body at different angular velocities for thethinning and shaving of a curved stereotype plate, presser means secureddirectly on said other means, said pressure means engaging saidstereotype plate while being thinned and shaved, a discharge passagearranged in the rotatable body, and deflecting means positioned oneither side of said eccentrically mounted member, said deflecting meansserving to deflect metal cut from the said plate into the said dischargepassage.

4. In a thinning and finishing machine for a curved stereotype platehaving an axis common to all points of the curve, means for supportingthe plate, a carrier rotatable on the axis of the curve, a thinningcutter rotatably supported on the carrier with its axis eccentric to andin paralielism with the axis of the carrier and arranged to remove metalfrom the inside surface of the plate, and a finishing cutter secured tothe carrier and adapted to finish the surface left by the thinningcutter.

5. In a thinning and finishing machine for a stereotype plate having acurved surface and an axis common to all points on the curved surface,means for supporting the plate, a thinning and finishing assemblyrotatable on the said axis, a thinning cutter rotatably supported on theassembly and having its axis eccentric to and in parallelism with theaxis of the assembly, adjustable cutting instrumentalities secured tothe said outter for variably thinning the inside surface of the plate byremoving material therefrom, and a finishing cutter secured to theassembly and adapted to finish the surface left by the thinning cutter,said finishing cutter having means to graduate the degree of finish onsaid surface.

6. In a device of the kind described for thinning and finishing a curvedprinting plate at one operation, a rotatable cylinder having cuttingmeans and provided with an eccentrically mounted revolvable cutter,means for securing said curved printing plate on said device inoperative position for cutting, said means being automaticallydisengaged after said printing plate has been thinned and shaved, andmeans in said rotatable cylinder for receiving and discharging metal cutfrom a printing plate while the said device is in operation.

'7. In a device for thinning and finishing a curved printing plate, thecombination of a rotatable cylinder, plate thinning and finishing meansI fastened to said cylinder, a rotary cutter operatively mounted on thecylinder, a frame adapted to receive a curved printing plate, meansinclud ing a resilient supporting instrumentality for mounted upon thecylinder,

maintaining a. curved printing plate in operative position on thesupport, and other means directly mounted on the rotatable cylinder fordeflecting metal into and discharging same out of the said cylinder.

8.. A combination as specified in claim '7 wherein said resilientsupporting instrumentality is automatically disengaged from the printingplate after the same has been operated upon.

9. In a device of the kind described for thinning and finishing a curvedplate in one operation, a rotatable cylinder having cutting meanssecured thereto, a rotary cutter eccentrically metal deflecting meanssecured to the cylinder and arranged on either side of the rotarycutter, passageways in the said cylinder adapted to receive metaldeflected by the said deflecting means, manually operable plate ejectingmeans normally maintained within the cylinder, andplate engaging andpressing down means secured to the cylinder and positioned on eitherside of the said metal deflecting means.

10. An arrangement as specified in claim 9 wherein means are providedfor automatically disengaging the printing plate after the same has beenoperated upon.

11. An arrangement as specified in claim wherein a chute is provided forreceiving cut metal from said last mentioned means.

12. In a device for thinning and finishing a curved printing platehaving an axis common to all points of the curve, the combination ofmeans for supporting the plate, a rotary carrier, a milling cuttereccentrically mounted on said carrier and adapted to remove metal fromthe inside surface of the plate, a finishing cutter secured to thecarrier and adapted to finish the surface left by the milling cutter, apower shaft concentric with the axis of the rotary carrier, gear meanssecured to said power shaft and operatively connected to said millingcutter, and other gear means operatively connecting the power shaft withthe rotary carrier for rotating the same, all of said gear means beinglocated at one end of the carrier.

13. In a thinning and finishing machine for a stereotype plate having acurved surface and an axis common to all points of the curved surface, aframe closed at one end and open at the other end for insertion andremoval of the plate, a carrier rotatable on the axis of the curve, athinning cutter eccentrically and rotatably supported on the carrier andarranged to remove metal from the inside surface of the plate, afinishing cutter secured to the carrier and adapted to finish thesurface left. by the thinning cutter, a power shaft concentric with theaxis of the carrier, and gear means arranged at the closed end of theframe and operatively connected to the carrier and the thinningcutterfor rotating the same.

14. In a thinning and finishing machine for a stereotype plate having acurved surface and an axis common to all points of the curved surface, aframe, means connected to said frame for supporting the plate, a carrierrotatable on the axis of the curve, a thinning cutter eccentrically androtatably supported on the carrier and arranged to remove metal from theinside surface of the plate, a finishing cutter secured to the carrierand adapted to finish the surface left by the thinning cutter, apassageway arranged in said carrier for discharging metal cut from. saidplate by said thinning cutter, and a chute secured to the frame forreceiving the said cut metal from the passageway.

15. In a device of the kind described, the combination of a rotatingmember, means secured to said member for shaving curved stereotypeplates, a second member rotatably and eccentrically mounted on saidfirst mentioned member, said second member having means fastened theretofor thinning the stereotype plate, a power shaft concentric with thefirst mentioned rotating member and positioned substantially at one endthereof, gear means operatively connecting said shaft with both of saidmembers, and a single housing wherein said gear means and said shaftrotate.

16. In a device of the character described, a

carrier member, a driving shaft coaxial with the carrier member, meanssecured to said member for shaving a curved stereotype plate, means forthinning the plate, said first mentioned means being adapted to finishthe surface left by the second mentioned means, bearing supports on themember adapted to rotatably support the thinning means with its axissubstantially in parallelism with the axis of the said member, and meansfor driving both said carrier member and said thinning means from thesaid driving shaft.

17. In a device of the character described, a carrier member, a drivingshaft coaxial with the carrier member, means secured to said member forshaving a curved, stereotype plate, means for thinning the plate, saidfirst mentioned means being adapted to finish the surface left by thesecond mentioned means, bearing supports on the member adapted torotatably support the thinning means with its axis substantially inparallelism with the axis of the said member, and means for driving bothsaid carrier member and said thinning means from the said driving shaft,and plate hold-down means secured to said carrier, said plate hold-downmeans being efiective to maintain a stereotype plate in position to beoperated upon by both of said means.

18. In a device of the character described, means for shaving the entirecurved inner surface of a curved stereotype plate, and a second meansmounted on and coacting with said firstmentioned means for operating onthe said inner surface to thin said plate preparatory to being shaved bythe first-mentioned means, said first mentioned means engaging only suchportions of the plate as have been previously acted upon by the secondmeans, and metal deflecting means arranged on either side of the secondmeans for deflecting metal and preventing same from interfering with thenormal and efficient operation of the device.

WILLIAM F. HUCK.

